Hajj Reflection #29: The act of true appreciation.

As year by year goes by, I suddenly remember how it was: the anticipation, the hopes, the promises, the faith... When everything had seemed impossible, He showed His grace and power. He opened closed doors and let us sail through.

Who would have thought anyone would be permitted to go on pilgrimage, after even the Agong had left, normally on the last flight? Who would have imagined Saudi would allow another flight of pilgrims to come in, when all the gates had clearly been closed? It was all beyond the human law but Allah permitted it, so be it!

I am humbled to be among those He gave mercy to, and to be closer to Him. Alhamdulillah... Praises to the Almighty.

Yet, I ponder, to what extent have I shown my appreciation to Him? Have I grabbed the second chance (umpteenth really..) given to me?

Let the ibadah of hajj absorb into every cell in our bodies, so that we become better servants to Him.

Hajj Reflection #28: Increasing supplication to ensure a place for Hajj

This time in 2012, I was among the hundreds who were in great suspense: will I get His invitation or not? 10 months prior to the months of Hajj, I had doubled and tripled my supplications, submitting my total self to Him; seeking His mercy and consideration to be chosen as a pilgrim for the year so that I could be closer to Him.

And of course, He listens... Alhamdulillah

To those who have not yet performed their hajj, focus on 3 specific actions/ibadah you are to commit to. Mine were:
1) Increase my solat taubah
2) Increase my sadaqah
3) Increase my fasts

Verily, which of the Blessings of your Lord will you deny?

Hajj Reflection #22: Travelling 'alone'

You are NEVER alone. This entry is especially for those who do not have a spouse or friend to go for hajj with. Do not fret, for Allah is always with us, just as Allah had said to our Prophet:

O Prophet, sufficient for you is Allah and for whoever follows you of the believers. 
Al Anfal: 64
 

After the demise of my husband in 2007, I sought advice from those more knowledgeable and pious, whether it was permissible for me to perform my hajj without a mahram. Once satisfied with the answer that I could, I was more than adamant to go. However, friends and relatives were a bit dubious about it, "You're going ALONE?"

In my humble opinion, I knew that I would never be alone. Firstly, physically, I would be amongst the other ladies in the group I would be going with. Secondly, spiritually, I would have Allah everywhere I go, especially when I am in His House, in the Holy land, subhanAllah... If I sought His help, guidance and rahmah, surely He would look after me and protect me from any evil or harm because He is our Lord the Almighty!

Once, I met a Malay woman who prayed next to me while waiting for Zohr. After we had completed our solat sunats, she told me that she was lost and whether I could help her. She was not familiar with that part of the mosque as her hotel was in the opposite direction from mine. Apparently, on that day she had decided to perform her tawaf sunat with her group members (following a mutawwif) instead of with her husband. Upon completing her tawaf, she realized that she had somehow gone off track and lost her group.  She began to panic. She had always relied on her husband so she really didn't know her way around the mosque.

I was stunned to hear her story. I had heard about people losing their ways in the mosque and here was one, sitting in front of me. For me, the kaabah is the compass that helps us know our bearings. "Which part of the kaabah do you see, upon entering the masjid everyday?" I asked. She said she didn't know. She always followed her husband. Her husband would know.

Alhamdulillah, she had written down her husband's mobile number in her notebook (her mobile phone had run out of battery). Hence, I lent her my mobile phone for her to call her husband, asking him to pick her up at Bab AlFath, door no.42 after Zohr. She was ever so thankful to me and even offered a couple of riyals for allowing her to make the call. I asked her to keep it and told her that she need not feel afraid and scared because she was in Allah's special House, Masjidil Haram! Ask for His help and He will help you!

Thus if you think that it will be difficult for you to travel to the Holy Lands without knowing anyone beforehand, think again.  Physically, Allah always guides and protects us by granting us with a 'supportive authority' (Al Isra: 80) in the form of friends, acquaintances and strangers.  He had blessed me with excellent companions, group members and roommates, Alhamdulillah.  

Alone? Never, in syaAllah!